Virtual Exploration 1. The Physical Characteristics of Humans
Visit the Washington State University General Education's website, "The Physical Characteristics of Humans:" http://www.wsu.edu/gened/learn-modules/top_longfor/phychar/culture-humans-1one.html The site covers topics including brain size, erect posture and bi-pedalism, other topics related to human anatomy, sexual dimorphism, and several maladies.
Click on the link for brain size and read the entire section. - Has the evolution of brains size in humans impacted other physical changes?
- Apart from some apparent advantages of increased brain size, what are the negatives?
- What role does culture play in mediating the effect of these changes?
Now go to the NewScientist.com website: http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7974. Read the article ‘Human Brains Enjoy Ongoing Evolution.' - Although brain size has remained relatively the same in humans for the past 200,000 years, other less subtle changes have occurred.
- Two active genes regulating brain size in the brain are of particular interest, Microcephalin and ASPM. Mutations of each suggest change.
- What is the effect of the Microcephalin mutation? Where has the incidence of this mutation occurred most often?
- What about ASPM? What is the impact of this mutation on the human brain?
Virtual Exploration 2. Walking Tall: PBS Evolution Library .
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/07/1/l_071_02.html·
Watch the Walking Tall video (56 seconds)from the PBS Evolution Library - What are the three main differences between chimpanzee and human anatomy that affect locomotion as shown in the video?
- Now read the Background.
- Name two additional anatomical differences between humans and chimpanzees that affect our means of walking.
- What physical drawbacks have we inherited with this bipedal adaptation?
- Now think like an engineer! In your opinion, are we perfectly adapted to walking upright? If not, what structural improvements can you suggest? (Think about features such as height, posture, and bone density.)
Virtual Exploration 3. Adolescence Came Late in Human Evolution
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/12/1205_humanteeth.html Read "Adolescence Came Late in Human Evolution" from National Geographic News and "Evolution's Youth Movement" from Science News about evidence for adolescence in human ancestors.- When in human history did adolescence evolve as a developmental stage?
- Did members of the species Homo erectus go through a prolonged growth period to reach adulthood? How about Neanderthals?
- How does this maturation period provide an evolutionary advantage?
- Why might it be easier to determine growth rates in more recent ancestors (such as early H. sapiens or H. antecessor) than in those from long ago (H. habilis and H. erectus)?
Virtual Exploration 4. For Monkeys, a Millipede a Day Keeps Mosquitoes Away
http://www.emory.edu/living_links/capuchins/NYT_millipede_article.htm Read the article "For Monkeys, a Millipede a Day Keeps Mosquitos Away" from the NY Times.- What kind of primate does the article discuss? Are these animals closely or distantly related to humans?
- How do the monkeys use millipedes for medicinal purposes? Why is this significant?
- What kind of social aspects are involved in this behavior? Is it a solitary endeavor?
- Would this qualify as a cultural behavior? Can you foresee a behavior, such as the use of certain organic materials as medicines, being transmitted from monkeys to humans?
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